We have covered EN388, ANSI, EN407, EN511, EN374, IEC 60903, CE and food rules one by one. Now we combine them. This is the on-the-job table: “for my work, which glove do I look at?” (← continued from Work Glove Certifications: The Full Map)
Summary
Glove choice works backwards. Define the hazard and the grade follows. Cut → EN388/ANSI; heat → EN407; cold → EN511; chemical → EN374; electrical → IEC 60903.
Chemical and electrical are mandatory (KC safety certification) in Korea; the rest are voluntary. And higher is not always better. The grade that matches the hazard is the safest.
The 3-step decision
It looks complex, but the order is always the same. Three steps and you’re done.
- Define the hazard. What threatens the hand — cut, heat, chemical? Usually two or three mix.
- Pick the standard and grade. Read the pictogram numbers of the matching standard. The canonical guide is How to Read EN388.
- Check legality. For imports, CE; for chemical/electrical in Korea, the KC safety-certification mark.
Selection table by industry
Here are the main hazards and the standards to read, by setting. Grades are a general starting point; adjust to your real risk assessment.
| Setting | Main hazards | Standards & grades | Mandatory in Korea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction / interior | abrasion, medium cut | EN388 cut B–C (ANSI A2–A4), grip | voluntary |
| Automotive / metalwork | cut, oil | EN388 C–D (ANSI A4–A5) + oil | voluntary |
| Glass / sheet metal | high cut | EN388 D–F (ANSI A5–A9) | voluntary |
| Welding / foundry | flame, contact heat, molten metal | EN407 (flame 4 + molten metal), leather | voluntary |
| Chemical / painting | chemical permeation | EN ISO 374 Type A–C | mandatory (chemical) |
| Electrical work | electrocution | IEC 60903 voltage class | mandatory (insulating) |
| Cold storage | cold, contact cold | EN511 (convective/contact cold) | voluntary |
| Food processing | chemical migration | MFDS/FDA compliant, nitrile | mandatory (food law) |
One-line notes by setting
A table is not enough, so here are quick per-setting tips.
Construction/interior mixes hazards broadly. Even with medium cut, grip (wet-hand slip) and dexterity matter. See also ANSI Cut & Impact.
Glass/sheet metal is all about cut. Aim for EN388 D+ (ANSI A5+), and check ANSI 138 impact if the back of the hand takes blows.
Welding/foundry sees heat in several forms. In Heat EN407, read the flame-spread and molten-metal digits.
Chemical/painting turns on the Type and breakthrough time in Chemical EN374, and it is mandatory in Korea. For electrical, get the IEC 60903 class exactly right and never skip the checks.
The “higher is better” trap
The most common mistake is “buy the priciest, highest grade for everything.” But a higher grade usually means thicker and less dexterity.
A study comparing cut-resistant gloves (Med Lav, 2025) again found protection and dexterity/grip are a trade-off. A clumsy hand causes a different accident. Over-spec’d cut gloves on precision work are actually riskier.
So the answer is not “the top grade” but “the grade that matches my hazard.” Read the hazard precisely, then match it.
One last thing: read the certificate
That was the starting point of this whole series. Not the big number on the product image or an adjective like “eco-friendly,” but the pictogram and grades on each model’s certificate. Even within one brand, certification differs by model.
So when you buy gloves, read the certification markings, not the ad. This entire series was for that one sentence.
Sources (whole series)
- Work Glove Certifications (pillar)
- How to Read EN388 · ANSI Cut & Impact
- Heat EN407 · Cold EN511
- Chemical EN374 · Electrical IEC 60903
- CE & REACH · Food FDA & MFDS · Korea’s KC system
Evidence: cut-glove protection vs dexterity trade-off (Med Lav 2025, PMID 40536301); hand laceration epidemiology (Sandler et al. 2022, PMID 35177285)
⚠ Claude Opus 4.8 (2026-06-28): The recommended grades in the table are general starting points based on the verified test conditions in each standard’s article; actual selection must be adjusted by on-site risk assessment. Mandatory certifications (chemical, electrical, food) follow the legal bases cited in each article.
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